The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-04-28

hinching; and listened to the padrona's
English with admiring attention; Twas
compelled to find a pretext for turning
my back, in order to hide a series of ir-
repressible grins.
We discovered that his name was
Filippo; that he had a mother and q
s~tep-father; also a baby sister, who
looked like an angel in a picture. His
stepfather, who was q scrittore, OF
public writer, never did any work. and
beat him, and he hoped he would die
of apoplexy. The padrona femonstrat-
ed, and Aunt Betsy was SO shocked
that she forgot every word of italian
she knew, and exhorted him earnestly
in English. 1t was all without effect;
his black eyes flashed, and he repeated
the remark with emphasis.
Angelica finally appearing, my aunt
gave Filippo ten cents and dismissed
him; he looked at the dirty bit of pa.
per increduously, and asked the pa.
drona if it was real. She said it was,
and a great deal too much for him,
looking at Aunt Betsey reproachfully
rs she said it, for she discountenanced
extravaganza.
The next day she raised the rent.
Three weeks later we met Filippo
again. We were walking, guide-book
in hand, through the interminab1e net
work of narrow streets in the neighbor.
hood of the tomb of Augusta-it is
now used as a theater-and aunt Bet.
sey "a delivering a homily on the
vanity Of human greatness, when we
suddenly stumbled on our little friend
at his place of business.
He had torn a gaudy theater-poster
from the wall, and had arranged there
on two rows of ci~gar-stumps. He rec.
ognized us Immediately. and rose when
we stopped. bowling with courtly po-
| likeness.
We asked him how the baby was, and
then inquired after the health of his
step-father. Not a muscle of his face
quivered, but mischief looked from his
eyes, as he raised his little brown
thumb and pointed over his shoulder
at a tall. handsome young fellow, who
wa lounging against the wall near by,
and regarding us with avaricious curl
os:ty.
In a low voice, Filippo told US that
his worthless relative had taken the ten
soldi.we had paid him, and pounded
him into the bargain for Directing.
eff the signora would make me a
present." said the little rascal, twink
ling, manage to shove it under the
paper, for he is watching u.s."
"sThey think we are made of money"
said Aunt Betsey to me, s.but he is such
a cute little chap''-and she slipped a
sopper coin under the paper as she
stopped down, under pretence of exam
ing his stock-in-trade.
Before we reached the corner, we
heard an angry, childish treble and a
shrek, and looking back, saw poor
Filippo picking up his cigar-ends from
the gutter, while his step-father impu.
| IDENTIFY held up the coin for us to see.
81 vould like to thump himr' said
Aunt Betsey, Indignantly.
That evening we were surprised with
a call from the dealer in stumps, and
still further surprised by his requesting
us to reimburse him for the loss sus-
tanned by his s~tep-father's theft, whose
bones he hoped the ravens would pick.
After expressing to me her opinions
of Italians in general, and Filippo in
particular, in good Vermont vernacu.
lar, Aunt Betsey yielded to the pathetic
anxiety in his black eyes, and granted
his naive request.
! He came often after that, no doubt
with the hope of charming imprisoned
| soldi from our purses to his pocket, al.
though I think Aunt Betsey's weird
italian had also a fascination for him.
He certainly had a fascination for us.
| When he failed to appear for a day OF
two, we sought him, under pretext Of
visiting an old curiosity shop in the
same street.
We grew fond of him; he made
oasis of human interest for us in the
desert of that crowded city,-and such
a sad old city!-where we were such
total strangers.
One day we called at the stump-de.
pot, but the establishment was closed,
and Filippo not to be found. To oul
anxious inquiries among a group o.
children, s.Non SOL" was the only re,
ply.
We returned again and again, ani
looked for him in all sorts of by places
until at last our fidelity was rewarded
In the church at st. Carlo we sat listen
ing to the music, when.I called Aunr
Betsy's attention to a man bowling be
fore the altar until his forehead touch
ed the floor, praying, crossing himself
with the most rapt piety. I thought
had never seen q more devout wor
shipper. When he raised his handsom,
face, and we recognized Filippo's step
father, we restrained ourselves witt
difficulty from bouncing upon him il
the midst of his devotions, and demand
ing the whereabouts of our pet. Wher
he left, we followed, and overlook hin
on the steps.
"Where's Filippoa" gasped my aunt
In response, he poured forth a floot
of musical speech, which seemed al
yowels. and completely swanped us
At last he toned down. Did not tn,
most beneficent signora and the mos
beautiful signorina know? Poor Flip
pc was sick! No doctor, no medicine
no food, because he-most unhappy
most unfortunate-had not a sold,
wherewith to buy. Would the signora
most angelic, pity a poor man.
My aunt replied, with some asperity
that she would not. Filippo's impre
cations had prejudiced US against thi
honest gentleman.
A red cloud of anger flushed his darl
face at the refusal, though not a mus
Gle moved. When we promised to visi
the sick bow. and asked his street an,